Our bodies create a tremendous amount of heat. Normally, they’re cooled through sweating and by heat radiating through the skin. But in very hot weather, high humidity, and other conditions, this natural cooling system may begin to fail, letting heat in the body build to dangerous levels. The can cause heat illness, such as heat …
Knee Injuries
No parent wants to see their sports-loving child sitting on the sidelines, but knee injuries put thousands of young athletes on the bench every year. It’s not unusual for kids to fracture, sprain, strain, or dislocate the knee joint while playing on the field or just goofing around with friends. …
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries
About Knee Injuries Knee injuries are common among active kids and teens, especially athletes. A torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) — a ligament that helps give the knee its stability — is one of the more serious injuries. Kids who tear their MCL tend to play contact sports, like football …
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Good news: Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is far less frightful than its name. Though it’s one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents, it’s really not a disease, but an overuse injury. OSD can be quite painful, but usually resolves itself within 12 to 24 months. About Osgood-Schlatter …
Playground Safety
Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment offer kids fresh air, friends, and exercise. So it’s important for parents to make sure that faulty equipment, improper surfaces, and careless behavior don’t ruin the fun. Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital ERs for playground-related injuries. Many of these accidents can …
Preventing Children’s Sports Injuries
Causes of Sports Injuries Participation in any sport, whether it’s recreational bike riding or Pee-Wee football, can teach kids to stretch their limits and learn sportsmanship and discipline. But any sport also carries the potential for injury. By knowing the causes of sports injuries and how to prevent them, you …
Safety Tips: Baseball
There’s a reason why baseball has been called our national pastime for decades. It’s as American as hot dogs and apple pie. It’s been a summer tradition in big cities and little towns across the U.S.A. for generations. It’s a great team sport, and it’s fun. Why Baseball Safety Is …
Safety Tips: Basketball
From the asphalt courts of Harlem to the high school gyms of Indiana, basketball is a way of life for millions of American kids and teens. It may be fun to play and great exercise, but basketball is also a contact sport, and injuries occur frequently. Also, since basketball players …
Safety Tips: Hockey
With non-stop action and high-speed team play, hockey is a great sport for kids. Sometimes called “the fastest game on ice,” it’s a great way to get exercise, and with youth and adult programs throughout the country, chances are no matter what your child’s age or skill level, there is …
Safety Tips: Skateboarding
Skateboarding’s popularity has soared in the last few decades, and offshoots like longboarding and mountain-boarding are becoming more common. But skateboarding also can be an easy way for kids to get hurt, particularly if they skate in the wrong place or don’t wear protective gear. Scrapes and bruises are almost a …